Episode 70: Backpacker Christmas

November 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 70, we talk about some great hiking and backpacking gift ideas for the Holidays.  Cardiac and Drone Boy are back on the show to talk about outdoor gear for beginners, weekend warriors, long-distance hikers, and kids - and just in time for the Holiday shopping season.  We also offer up some backpacking gifts for $50 or less, and review some not so wonderful gift ideas from Christmas past. You can see the live video recording of this podcast on Drone Boy's YouTube channel, or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Discussions, Backpacking Tips, Gear, Gear For Your Dog, Hiking Gear, Humor, Long Distance Backpacking, National Parks, Podcasts, Trail Talk, With Dogs

The Best Packs For Backpacking

February 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

We spend a lot of time recommending to each other the best hikes to head out on. When we do it, we give a lot of advice about things to see and do on the walk. We talk about the difficulty of the terrain, and the scenery to look out for on the way. We point out all the landmarks that will help us stay on track, and all the great places to eat or drink when we’re stopping for refreshments. We might even impart a little wisdom on the best gear to take along for the journey; what kind of clothing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Articles, Gear, Hiking Articles, Hiking Gear, Long Distance Backpacking

Episode 50: Winter Backpacking

March 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 50, Rich, Mark, and Aaron join us from the ADK Winter Mountaineering School to discuss winter backpacking and how it is one of the best kept secrets of the wilderness - no crowds, no bugs, no humidity ... no problem. In the show, we talk about the gear you need, the tricks you can employ, and the ADK training that will make you a bad ass winter backpacker. So listen in and get pumped to hike in the cold.  And while you are at it - check out the FREE PDF's the school offers to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gear, How To Hike & Backpack, Mountaineering, Podcasts

Episode 48: The Inca Trail

January 5, 2018 By 1 Comment

In Episode 48, Cardiac and Drone Boy discuss their summer backpacking trip on the Inca Trail in Peru.  Their four day hike took them over ~14,000 feet peaks in the legendary Andes Mountains and culminated at the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu - which is one of the most photographed tourist destinations in South America. In the show, we talk about what it costs to hike the Inca Trail, the logistics of getting to the trailhead, and we discuss the history of this ancient city. Cardiac and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Discussions, Backpacking Tips, Gear, Humor, International Hikes, Mishaps, Podcasts

Episode 47B: Your Screwed Dude! (B301)

December 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 47, Beer Run and Therm Rider join me from the mountains surrounding Lake Burton to sit fireside and discuss more rookie mistakes.  In this special "Your Screwed Dude" episode we talk about overconfidence, getting your friends lost in the backcountry, inadvertently smuggling banned items on airplanes, editables, dork moves, and backcountry crimes of fashion. “Backcountry 301” is the third installment in this series, and in the show we debate some of the "52 Common Mistakes" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Discussions, Backpacking Tips, Gear, Humor, Mishaps, Podcasts, Trail Talk

Episode 43: Hammocks

August 8, 2017 By 2 Comments

In Episode 43, we talk about the hammock!!!  Marc Bohman joins us live from the Teton Hammock Company in Idaho Falls, ID to provide some tips and tricks for sleeping "between the trees".  We also discuss some common misconceptions of the hammock and what you can do to be more comfortable in the wilderness. So ground dwellers (aka tent campers) make the jump, and learn the advantages of taking a hammock in to the backcountry.  And if you have your sites set on a trip to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking, Gear, Hiking Gear, Podcasts

Episode 42: Most Significant Backcountry Gear?

July 5, 2017 By 6 Comments

In Episode 42, we discuss a March 2017 article that appeared in Outside Magazine titled "The 40 Most Significant Tools & Toys Ever Designed".  In honor of the magazine's 40th anniversary, the editors choose 40 products that "stood out for their sheer inventiveness" and their general impact on the outdoor community. Tonight we sit fireside on the South Carolina side of the Chattooga River and debate the merits of some items on the list.  Our group rarely reaches a consensus on each … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Discussions, Gear, Humor, Podcasts

Episode 32: Advanced Rookie Mistakes (B201)

June 19, 2016 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 32, the conversation on Rookie Mistakes continues as we sit fireside on Justus Creek along the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. In this discussion, Beer Run, PokeyBo, and Therm Rider talk about some classic rookie moves: taking the wrong gear, hiking above your skill level, and taking too much. “Backcountry 201” is the second installment in this mini-series where we sit around the campfire and discuss the fundamentals of backpacking.  In this episode, we go "off trail" a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking Discussions, Backpacking Hacks, Backpacking Tips, Gear, How To Hike & Backpack, Humor, Management, Mishaps, National Forest, Podcasts, Trail Talk

Episode 28: The Benton MacKaye Trail

October 24, 2015 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 28, Sprinkles and NoKey discuss their ultimate summer:  Thru-hiking 1400 miles on four major trails along the East Coast - including the Benton MacKaye, Finger Lakes, Northville-Placid and Long Trails. Forewarning, we spend the majority of the podcast discussing their 20 day, ~290 mile hike on the Benton MacKaye Trail - a great alternative to the Appalachian Trail in the South - but there's lots of great tips on backpacking and thru-hiking in general. So listen in - and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, Gear, Long Distance Backpacking, Long Distance Hiking, Podcasts, The Long Trail

Return Of The Dana!

August 29, 2015 By Leave a Comment

In the mid-90', Dana Design was the backpack for thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.  I liked mine so much that I bought a second one two years after my thru-hike despite the steep price of $400+ And Dana Gleason, founder of his namesake Dana Designs, has returned to the market!  After selling his company and watching a series of outdoor companies fumble with a once dominant brand - Dana is back (and so is the Terraplane). The U.S. Military and U.S. Forest Service "hot shot" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Backpacking, Backpacking Articles, Gear, Hiking, Hiking Articles, Hiking Gear, Humor, Long Distance Backpacking Tagged With: , , , ,
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